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New to my repertoire: Men's Health

If you follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or any of the other places around the web where I sporadically post, you probably already know that I recently added Men's Health to my list of publications.

Here's how that started: Back in January, I went to an "influencers" dinner by Harman. It was at a steakhouse, I cover as much audio as PCWorld, Macworld, and TechHive cover (which is not a lot, unless it's targeted -- for example, this article I wrote on workout headphones). I also cover car tech, which is in some part audio. Anyway, at the dinner I sat across from Eric, the Men's Health tech editor. Now, as freelancers go I'm pretty easy on the hustle, but that doesn't mean I don't give out my business cards like it's my job. Mostly because it is my job, but also because I really love my business cards.

After the dinner, we got to talking (over email), and I started pitching him article ideas once he sorted out his budget. Pretty straightforward. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how freelancers get jobs (seriously).

I, as you might imagine, am thrilled to be writing for Men's Health -- not just because it's a new magazine that pays money (although that's a plus), but because I love, love, love fitness magazines. Because I love fitness! For those of you who don't remember (or who don't know), fitness sort of runs in my blood: both my parents are P.E. teachers (my mom is a lifelong P.E. teacher; my dad started out in math and chemistry and later thought P.E. looked more interesting), coaches, and athletes. My dad played college football, my mom ran 5 miles a day until her knees busted out (don't run!!! It's bad for you!!!). They're also both certified lifeguard instructors, so you can imagine how much fun it was when they made me and my brothers take a lifeguarding class co-taught by them.

Crazy P.E.-teaching parents aside, sports and fitness is a pretty big thing in my family. My little brother, Timmy Jacobsson, just qualified for the Asia Regionals in the CrossFit Games. That's right -- he beat out thousands of people in the CrossFit open to secure a spot in the top 48 (in Asia). And not just any spot -- he's #16, which is awesome. In fact, in the last workout (there are six) he came in first place, like a champion. As you can probably tell, I'm super proud of him, not only because he's got a definite shot at going to the games in July (and this is his first year entering), but because just five years ago he was 300 pounds and diabetic. Now he's 180-ish and...not diabetic. Yeah, apparently you can get rid of diabetes (technically he's controlling it with diet and exercise, but he doesn't even have to take blood tests anymore, so for all intents and purposes it's gone).

Okay, enough about my life and my crazy fitness-obsessed family. Men's Health...is what we were talking about. It's been about a month now, and you can go check out some of my work on the TechLust blog. My latest piece is up now, actually: Use Gaming for Daily Motivation